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Yuni Kristina

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Yuni Kristina

Silk batik shawls and scarves in Bali and Java

"My mother is my inspiration. She and I still design together, especially the floral and bird motifs that are typical in Pekalongan batik."

Update (August, 2019)

I'm Yuni Kristina and I was born in 1983 in Pekalongan, Central Java. As part of Pekalongan regency, Wonokerto is known as the 'World's City of Batik,' people in here also create batik. Most homemakers in my town make batik, from small productions to large ones. There are stamped batiks and hand-painted batiks — all are available. Besides being known as Batik City, Pekalongan is also known as the 'Fisherman City.' Most of the men work as fishermen. My father also was a fisherman and my mother as a batik maker. As a fisherman, my father could be gone anywhere from a month to six months. It all depended on how much fish he could catch.

I started working in this field when I was 16 years old. After school, I helped my mother in making batik. She taught me how to hold the canting tool, and how to draw on cotton or silk. I love making batik because it has so many motifs that can be explored. To make batik, one also needs patience and extraordinary skill.

Even though now my life seems good and I can provide for my children, I used to work very hard when I was a teenager. When I graduated from senior high school, I had to work in two places. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., I worked for a phone seller and after that, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., I worked at a motorcycle counter in a shopping mall. I did that for six years because I needed to support my father, since he was very sick at that time.

Now, I am married to my lovely husband, Pande Putu Riecky Surya and together, we are blessed with a daughter and two sons. Our children are the best thing that ever happened to me. And they give us new spirit to work harder. My husband and I always give our best to give them a great education, so they can have a bright future. We hope that they will be humble people, and they can make a good impact on society.

When I had just started my batik workshop, a lot of people underestimated my skill. Yet, by the time I could prove they were wrong, people started to recognize my designs. I have made a lot of batik scarves and shawls, but my best and most challenging one is the ‘Wine Garden' shawl. The reason is because it uses two methods to make it beautiful. First, I do batik on silk, and then I draw flowers so the product is really colorful. The silk and cotton in my scarves are usually ones that I have picked. Then I give them to my helpers — I have 20 helpers, six men and fourteen women. My husband and I coordinate everything. I'm really proud to be a batik maker because I am also preserving my heritage, especially now that batik is recognized as original to Indonesia.

I joined you in 2006. It was my husband who brought our batik to you and, thankfully, you accepted us and even helped us a lot. You've taught me to be really careful in making sure of the quality of my scarves and shawls. You've also taught me to be creative, as you request new designs regularly. And we received a Novica microcredit at zero percent interest so I could expand my workshop. I've worked very hard and today, I own a house and two shops to sell my batik scarves. I even have a car and a motorcycle, and now I can support my children with the best education.

Original Artisan Story

I learned the art of batik when I was very young, since my mother is a batik artist in Java. She has been making batik at home for 23 years, while waiting each day for my father – a fisherman – to come home from the sea. As you can imagine, batik is a part of my life. I started experimenting with the technique when I was 13 years old, with mori textiles. Now I've learned to create different motifs and to work with other materials, such as silk. My mother still helps me a lot.

My mother is my inspiration. She and I still design together, especially the floral and bird motifs that are typical in Pekalongan batik. My husband Rieckey also helps me a lot because he knows what people like abroad, and then I can focus on creating. I would like the batik of Bali to become well known around the world, since its beauty is outstanding.

Cause Badges

Preserving Traditions

Microcredit Financing

Empowering Women

Enabling Education

Caring for Children

70 items by Yuni Kristina

Customer Reviews

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Artist rating

Total reviews

239

D&D

From new york

Verified Reviewer

02/06/2021

"Very simple yet elegant"

Exactly as pictured, very flowy, and pretty.

Best Uses

every day, decorate purse, gift

Purchased Item:

Euphoria, Handcrafted Floral Silk Wrap Shawl

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Carol

From California

Verified Reviewer

01/16/2021

"The Best Scarf/ Shawl"

This is my go to gift! It?s colors are gorgeous. It?s lightweight and can be worn as a scarf or a shawl. The colors enhance every complexion and it can be dresses up or with a tee shirt for casual wear. I?ve given several as gifts and the recipients wear them all the time!

Tags By Carol

Colorful easy care perfect gift

Best Uses

Gift

Purchased Item:

Wine Garden, Artisan Crafted Batik Silk Shawl Wrap

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Kate

From Sydney

Verified Reviewer

01/16/2021

"This is one of my favourite schawls"

It is thinner than i thought it would be but still not to thin to be fragile (for people like me anyway, who tend to get fragile materials damaged no matter how much we try to look after them) and its nice on a cool summer evening or over a jumper in winter (not that i have had any such weather to try it yet). I love brown but wanted some colour as well, that was not to bright so while brown looks good with colours like white it matches much more . And the material feel beautiful and soft.

Best Uses

Over a dress to add colour or cover your shoulders n the evening breeze, over just about anything

Purchased Item:

Euphoria, Handcrafted Floral Silk Wrap Shawl

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Kim

Verified Reviewer

01/09/2021

"Elegant!"

It is subdued enough to go with everything!

Purchased Item:

Euphoria, Handcrafted Floral Silk Wrap Shawl

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Christine in Athens, Ohio

From rolling hills of Southeast Ohio

Verified Reviewer

01/04/2021

"Luxurious and comforting"

This silk scarf is so beautiful. It feels like a caress. Soft and light, I am so pleased with this purchase!

Tags By Christine in Athens, Ohio

work denim casual dressy comfort luxurious

Best Uses

Great with denim or suited-up with a work wordrobe

Purchased Item:

Blue Jasmine, Batik Silk Scarf from Indonesia

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Dale

Verified Reviewer

11/30/2020

"Lovely"

Gorgeous work.

Purchased Item:

Royal Java Blue, Handmade Silk Batik Scarf from Indonesia

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